High Rates of Obesity and Chronic Diseases Among North Carolina United Methodist Clergy: An Updated Analysis

Abstract

background Varied demands and stressors experienced by clergy can contribute adversely to their overall well-being. Data from United Methodist Church (UMC) clergy in North Carolina in 2008 revealed that clergy had significantly higher non-communicable disease (NCD) rates than their fellow North Carolinians. methods Using data from the Clergy Health Initiative and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the present study provided an updated analysis of obesity and 6 other NCDs among North Carolina UMC clergy compared to the general North Carolina population. First, we described the prevalence of each health condition among North Carolina UMC clergy and the general North Carolina population across multiple waves from 2008 to 2021. Then, we compared the predicted probabilities of each health condition in 2021 using logistic regres-sions to adjust for age, sex, and race. results Comparing the unadjusted prevalence of health conditions between 2008 and 2021, we found that North Carolina UMC clergy have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, angina, arthritis, and asthma than North Carolinians overall. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, we found that significantly higher rates of obesity, severe obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and asthma per-sisted among UMC clergy in 2021 compared to all North Carolinians, with the higher rates of severe obesity being particularly concerning. limitations While the current study is limited to an update of health prevalence among UMC clergy, pastors across denominations are influential leaders in their communities, shaping the physical and social health environments of their congregations. conclusions Further research is needed to investigate risk factors, such as relocation and adverse childhood experiences, that may influence the higher prevalence of NCDs within and potentially beyond the UMC.